Backcountry Multi-Day Trips « Basecamping
Nikolai
Trip Descriptions
Basecamping:
One of our favorite places in the park is only a ridge away. A brief but thrilling flight brings you to an island of alpine floating far above an expansive landscape. Nikolai feels like the edge of the earth. Picturesque camping spots adorn the edges of the broad plateau. The ridge hiking is remarkable and clear days deliver 360 degrees views of high peaks throughout the park. Cloudy days are high drama with bands of fog wrapping the ridgeline. Watch Dall sheep navigate the rocky mountainside and marvel at the hardy flowers hidden in the alpine. Nikolai is a truly special and often overlooked backcountry location.
- Duration: 3-4 Days
- Difficulty: Easy-Medium
Backpacking Loop:
This area is a network of connecting alpine ridges that can offer backpacking loops with a wide range of objectives. Scramble up Sourdough or Nikolai Peaks, day hike along knife edge ridges or read a book in a secluded alpine camp hidden on the side of the mountain.
- Duration: 3-6 Days
- Difficulty: Easy-Difficult
Highlights:
- Affordable airfare, amazing flight
- Views of big peaks and river valleys
- Incredible location “above it all”
- Great ridge hiking
- Memorable camping experience
Trip Details
Terrain Challenges May Include:
Rocky/unstable ground, elevation gain and loss in short distances, steep vegetated hillsides, side-hilling.
Who:
Novice campers to experienced backpackers
When:
Late June-September
Where:
We will meet you at your lodging or at the footbridge ½ hour before your flight time and provide transportation to the airstrip.
Trip Includes
- Pre-trip planning.
- Experienced, friendly, knowledgeable guides!
- Small ratios: 1 guide for groups up to 5 people. 2 guides for groups of 6+ (additional porters may be requested for any group size at an additional cost)
- Customizable itinerary.
- Airfare into the backcountry.
- Medical equipment, training and protocols to Wilderness First Responder Standards.
- SAT phone & Delorme InReach.
- Healthy, nutritious food customized to your tastes.
- Cooking gear and fuel.
- Backpacking pack (if needed)
- Sleeping bag/pad combo (if needed)
- Technical gear and equipment.
- Personal tent(s) and group cook tent.
- Leave No Trace and Bear Safety education/ ethics.
Trip Does not Include
- Guide Gratuity (recommended 10-20% of tour cost)
- Day packs (for basecamping day hikes)
- Personal clothing & gear. For further suggestions on gear you will want to bring from home (this might help you pack for your whole Alaskan vacation!) visit our Trip Planning Page for a gear list.
- Alcohol in the backcountry.
- Pre & Post trip lodging.
- Transportation to and from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
Trip Prices
Nikolai (Backcountry Airfare From McCarthy Included)
Client:Guide Ratio & Price
Pricing per Number of Clients – 3 Day Trip
1:1 / $3,390 per person
2:1 / $2,065 per person
3:1 / $1,745 per person
4:1 / $1,645 per person
5:1 / $1,440 per person
6+:2 / $1,490 per person
Pricing per Number of Clients – 4 Day Trip
1:1 / $4,270 per person
2:1 / $2,565 per person
3:1 / $2,160 per person
4:1 / $2,005 per person
5:1 / $1,770 per person
6+:2 / $1,820 per person
Pricing per Number of Clients – 5 Day Trip
1:1 / $5,150 per person
2:1 / $3,065 per person
3:1 / $2,575 per person
4:1 / $2,365 per person
5:1 / $2,100 per person
6+:2 / $2,150 per person
Pricing per Number of Clients – 6 Day Trip
1:1 / $6,030 per person
2:1 / $3,565 per person
3:1 / $2,990 per person
4:1 / $2,725 per person
5:1 / $2,430 per person
6+:2 / $2,480 per person
Photo Gallery
Click to enlarge
Trip Prices
Nikolai (Backcountry Airfare From McCarthy Included)
Client:Guide Ratio & Price
Pricing per Number of Clients – 3 Day Trip
1:1 / $3,390 per person
2:1 / $2,065 per person
3:1 / $1,745 per person
4:1 / $1,645 per person
5:1 / $1,440 per person
6+:2 / $1,490 per person
Pricing per Number of Clients – 4 Day Trip
1:1 / $4,270 per person
2:1 / $2,565 per person
3:1 / $2,160 per person
4:1 / $2,005 per person
5:1 / $1,770 per person
6+:2 / $1,820 per person
Pricing per Number of Clients – 5 Day Trip
1:1 / $5,150 per person
2:1 / $3,065 per person
3:1 / $2,575 per person
4:1 / $2,365 per person
5:1 / $2,100 per person
6+:2 / $2,150 per person
Pricing per Number of Clients – 6 Day Trip
1:1 / $6,030 per person
2:1 / $3,565 per person
3:1 / $2,990 per person
4:1 / $2,725 per person
5:1 / $2,430 per person
6+:2 / $2,480 per person
Trip Descriptions
Basecamping:
One of our favorite places in the park is only a ridge away. A brief but thrilling flight brings you to an island of alpine floating far above an expansive landscape. Nikolai feels like the edge of the earth. Picturesque camping spots adorn the edges of the broad plateau. The ridge hiking is remarkable and clear days deliver 360 degrees views of high peaks throughout the park. Cloudy days are high drama with bands of fog wrapping the ridgeline. Watch Dall sheep navigate the rocky mountainside and marvel at the hardy flowers hidden in the alpine. Nikolai is a truly special and often overlooked backcountry location.
- Duration: 3-4 Days
- Difficulty: Easy-Medium
Backpacking Loop:
This area is a network of connecting alpine ridges that can offer backpacking loops with a wide range of objectives. Scramble up Sourdough or Nikolai Peaks, day hike along knife edge ridges or read a book in a secluded alpine camp hidden on the side of the mountain.
- Duration: 3-6 Days
- Difficulty: Easy-Difficult
Highlights:
- Affordable airfare, amazing flight
- Views of big peaks and river valleys
- Incredible location “above it all”
- Great ridge hiking
- Memorable camping experience
Trip Details
Terrain Challenges May Include:
Rocky/unstable ground, elevation gain and loss in short distances, steep vegetated hillsides, side-hilling.
Who:
Novice campers to experienced backpackers
When:
Late June-September
Where:
We will meet you at your lodging or at the footbridge ½ hour before your flight time and provide transportation to the airstrip.
Trip Includes
- Pre-trip planning.
- Experienced, friendly, knowledgeable guides!
- Small ratios: 1 guide for groups up to 5 people. 2 guides for groups of 6+ (additional porters may be requested for any group size at an additional cost)
- Customizable itinerary.
- Airfare into the backcountry.
- Medical equipment, training and protocols to Wilderness First Responder Standards.
- SAT phone & Delorme InReach.
- Healthy, nutritious food customized to your tastes.
- Cooking gear and fuel.
- Backpacking pack (if needed)
- Sleeping bag/pad combo (if needed)
- Technical gear and equipment.
- Personal tent(s) and group cook tent.
- Leave No Trace and Bear Safety education/ ethics.
Trip Does not Include
- Guide Gratuity (recommended 10-20% of tour cost)
- Day packs (for basecamping day hikes)
- Personal clothing & gear. For further suggestions on gear you will want to bring from home (this might help you pack for your whole Alaskan vacation!) visit our Trip Planning Page for a gear list.
- Alcohol in the backcountry.
- Pre & Post trip lodging.
- Transportation to and from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
Nikolai
Photo Gallery
Click to enlarge, or use arrows to scroll.
We are so grateful to the company and our guide, they really made this a dream day for me!
When planning our trip to Alaska, the one thing I wanted was to walk on a Glacier! Dear hubby contacted Kennicott Wilderness Guides and got it all set up. On 9/9/18 we were picked up by Payton, she was awesome and our guide for the day. After all paperwork signed she got us outfitted with crampons. We had a hike to the Root Glacier and along the way she was able and willing to point out lots of small and interesting details. Once we got to the glacier she made sure we had crampons on correcting and showed us how to walk in them. The the day just got better the glacier it was awesome and with her knowledge we learned so much, she had been there the whole season and hiked so much of the area, she gladly shared that info with us. Payton made sure along the way to make sure we were safe. Absolutely if you want to walk and experience the beauty of the glacier get in touch with this company.
